I had once a talk with a college student who sat next to me on a long bus ride. She grew up in a village near Meerut, went to the local Hindi medium school and enjoyed her time in school. But when she went for higher studies, she almost gave up, as English was a big hurdle. Yet after one year struggle, she managed well.
She told me that most of her college mates, who had been to English medium schools, had become atheists. Yet she loves her Hindu faith and we had a good conversation about the depth of her tradition.
When I was studying at Hamburg University in the 1970s, atheism was fashionable, too. Peer pressure also did its part. None of my friends went to church on Sundays, including me.
Google explains the driving factors for atheism in this way:
“Studies suggest that higher levels of education, increased access to scientific information and secular philosophies via the internet, and a generational shift away from organized religion are the primary drivers of this growth.”
This sounds, as if atheism is more rational than belief in a God. Isn’t it?
The prominent Israeli historian, Yuval Noah Harari, who was hosted and praised also on an Indian TV channel, and is a regular speaker at the WEF, also said, “It’s ridiculous to believe in a God and a soul.”
He is a heavy-weight. His books sell in tens of millions. So, he should be right, isn’t it?
Let’s try to find out:
Harari didn’t explain what he means by God and soul. And the definition is of course crucial. Most atheists may say,” Isn’t it clear? God is the English word for the Creator of the universe, for the Highest Truth.”
Few will doubt that this universe, and we included, has to come from somewhere and ‘God’ is given as the answer. He is seen as the ultimate power, from which all else emanates.
Now how to describe this great power?
Somehow, the Abrahamic view of God has taken predominance, maybe, because the majority of humans are Christians or Muslims:
God is seen as a male, all-knowing, all-powerful superhuman entity in heaven. He has allegedly conveyed to a few special persons what he wants from us humans. He is also compassionate and loving. But he loves only those who believe in him and who follow the instructions sent down through those special envoys. Those who don’t follow his instructions will be sent to eternal hellfire.
This view is reinforced and fear of eternal hell is instilled in children, generation after generation. Even in most adults, this belief has become part of their mental make-up.
However, though Christianity, Islam and Judaism go all back to Abraham and have similar views regarding the creator, each one claims that its own God alone is the true one and needs to be worshipped.
Except for Judaism, which does not want converts due to its belief that Jews are chosen by God to rule the world, the two other Abrahamic religions see it as their duty to make the whole world believe in their particular God. That means, Christianity claims all must become Christians, and Islam claims all must become Muslims to gain entry into heaven. And they can be (and have been) ruthless in pursuing their goal.
This notion of God needs urgent scrutiny – not only by outsiders, but also by insiders in those Abrahamic faiths.
Is it possible that the Supreme is a sort of superhuman entity and heavily biased towards his followers and unforgiving towards ‘others’? It’s difficult to believe that this kind of God is the highest truth.
So, does it mean that Yuval Noah Harari and atheists are right?
Let’s look at a different view about God before deciding on this important issue.
Here, ancient India comes in:
In ancient times, long before Judaism, Christianity or Islam appeared, Vedic Dharma (today called Hinduism) had a very mature understanding of the Highest Truth which is called Brahman in the Vedas (there are other names, like Paramatman, Tat..).
Brahman is not personal, not a superhuman entity, not male or female, but the most subtle, invisible, conscious, one basis of all. The Rishis declared, “Brahman is not what the eyes can see, but That whereby the eyes can see. Brahman is not what the mind can think but That whereby the mind can think” (Kena Upanishad).
They realised that this varied universe is a mistaken perception of the one Brahman due to its innate creative Shakti or Maya. Maya makes this manifold world appear as a Lila (play) on the one Brahman. It can be compared with a movie that plays temporarily on the one screen (Brahman) or like a dream of Brahman.
The Rishis give another example how it is possible to miss the truth though it is right in front of our eyes: we go to a potter’s shop. We see all types of cups and jugs, but we miss to see the mud from which they are made. The mud is the essence of the temporary form of a cup. It remains after the cup is broken.
Similarly, Brahman is the essence of our person and remains when our person has ceased to exist.
Yet do the Rishis have any proof for their view?
Unlike the clergy of Abrahamic religions, who need to believe blindly in their respective dogmas, the Rishis vigorously and intelligently enquired into the truth which is reflected in the ancient texts, especially the Upanishads. For example, they give criteria for the absolute truth:
One: it must be at all times – past, present and future,
Two: it must not need anything else to shine or in other words, it has to be self- evident.
Those two criteria dismiss the whole universe as not absolutely true. Apart from the fact that it is not always, it also needs something to ‘shine’ – it needs consciousness.
So, what is left? The Rishis claim that the subtle, conscious basis of everything is left – Sat-Chit-Ananda. It means that it is here right now as pure, thought-free awareness. It is not some separate thing at some different place. It is our very Being and therefore there is a chance to ‘real-ise’ (know it as real) by turning inwards to what is unchanging and true in us and develop devotion for it.
But why should we do this? Why should we try to still the mental chatter at least sometimes for a little while? Is there any benefit? Yes, there is an immense benefit:
The Rishis claim that our essence is not only the source of valuable inspiration, but is also most blissful – far more blissful than what any worldly enjoyment can give. And the Rishis spoke from experience.
This Indian knowledge is very valuable and needs to spread. Yet instead, Western media and even academia often demean the Hindu tradition as primitive and even demonic. Why? Do they not want humans to know that ‘God’ is within them??
By Maria Wirth
if you like my writing, consider getting my books
“Why Hindu Dharma is under attack…” both in English and Hindi
“Thank you India” in English,
also in Kindle and abroad available.
Link: https://www.amazon.in/s?k=maria+wirth
